Dragons fly-half Tovey: I need to be more of a threat with ball in hand

JASON Tovey hopes that Newport Gwent Dragons can give a glimpse of 2014/15 by giving Treviso the runaround at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

The Dragons bring their season to an end when they welcome the Italians to Newport and victory would ensure that they finish at least 10th in the RaboDirect Pro12.

It has been a shocking 2014 for the region, who have slipped down from the top half of the table after taking just 7 points from a possible 50.

And after a promising start to the campaign Tovey's own form has dipped dramatically with ex-Italy fly-half Kris Burton given the nod for the Ospreys and Scarlets derbies.

The 25-year-old from Risca, who returned to Rodney Parade after an ill-fated season with Cardiff Blues, knows that next term he needs to be more of a threat with ball in hand rather than using the boot.

Tovey said: "I'd say my season has been mediocre, five or six out of 10. I've got a lot to work on and pre-season will be massive, and not just for me because a lot of new boys will be coming in and we'll have to blend together.

"Lyn (Jones, director of rugby) has spoken to me about threatening more with ball in hand and our sessions have been pretty intense with a lot more running.

"He wants more of an attacking threat from 9 and 10. We've been working on that, it's not quite transferred to the field yet but hopefully it will come."

The Dragons are hoping to finish their season with a bang against a Treviso side that hammered them 45-27 last month.

"We were pretty poor out there and have got plenty to put right," admitted Tovey. "Treviso have a big pack that they use well while they also beat us in the kicking game."

The Dragons have no fresh injury worries following last week's 34-23 loss to the Scarlets in Llanelli.

- Bedford have confirmed that, as revealed in last week's Argus, Newport Gwent Dragons fly-half Steffan Jones is joining the Championship club on loan next season.